Crawford performer Eli Young Band on slow climb

August 16, 2012 12:01 AM

August 16, 2012 12:01 AM

HEAR IT

Eli Young Band, Thompson Square will play Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Crawford County Fair near Meadville. Tickets are $30 and $25, not including fair admission. Call (800) 585-3737 or visit www.crawfordcountyfairpa.com/concerts.

The Eli Young Band will be co-headliners at an Aug. 21, 2012, concert at the Crawford County Fair. Members, from left, are drummer Chris Thompson, guitarist James Young, lead vocalist Mike Eli and bassist Jon Jones. CONTRIBUTED/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

You can consider Eli Young Band an overnight success -- if you live in Alaska, where night seems to last a decade. The members of this Texas country band met in college in 2000 and slogged the bar circuit in its home state and the South for years before "Crazy Girl" reached No. 1 in 2011 and seemingly made them instant stars.

"It was really always about slowly building," said Jon Jones, the band's bassist. "But there was a point, when we were about to graduate from college, that we needed to go out and make money to survive.

"We started to get a little momentum in Texas and Oklahoma and just made a decision to stick with it and give it all we have. After we made that decision, there hasn't been any low points. We all committed to it together, and that's what carried us throughout."

This is how close they are: They all attended a baby shower for Mike Eli and his wife.

"We had a dual gender baby shower and all chipped in and got a really nice stroller. We really are like family," Jones said.

Eli took a short break from singing "Crazy Girl" to welcome his baby girl, Kline. The group has been touring with Rascal Flatts, but plays with Thompson Square -- another breakthrough act -- on Tuesday at Meadville.

"The week that got their first No. 1 ("Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not") we were playing a show with them," Jones recalled. "It was before we had ours."

Now they have two. "Even If It Breaks Your Heart," the ringing guitar follow-up to "Crazy Girl," also hit No. 1. "It made us appreciate it even more," Jones said. "It's been a roller coaster ever since, and things are moving in the right direction."

Can they make it three in a row? "Say Goodnight," the next single from "Life at Best," will be released to radio on Aug. 27.